Speed matching regulator



R. A. GEISELMAN SPEED MATCHING REGULATOR Filed April 15, 1941 Oct. 6, 1942.

INVENTOR Patented Oct. 6, 19442I SPEED MATCHING REGULAT Ralph A. Geiselman, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 15, 1941, Serial No. 388,603

6 Claims.

"This `linvention relates to regulators and par- `ticularly to synchronous speed matching reguflators.

It is an object ofrthisiinvention to utilize a mechanical connection movable in response to a .change in speed of -a `dynamo-electric machine for initiating the control of the excitation of the :machine and to provide for-adjusting the ratio of :movement between the moving elements of the lonnection to give a sensitive direct acting conrol.

A more specic object of this invention is to 1 utilize a mechanical connection movable in re- :sponse to a change in speed of a dynamo-electric machine for operating a direct acting control device for controlling the excitation of the machine vand to provide for adjusting the ratio of movement between the moving elements of the connection to adjust the sensitivity of response of fthe control device with respect to the change in speed of the machine.

l Other objects of this invention will become apj'parent from the following description, when itaken in conjunction with the accompanying fdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the 'circuits and apparatus illustrating this invention, some of the apparatus being shown in elevation vand partly in section; and

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1 the plane being indicated by the line II-II of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly Fig. l, there is illustrated a dynamo-electric machine IU, the speed of which it is desired to maintain constant with respect to a constant speed reference machine I2. The dynamo-electric machine I as illustrated comprises a direct current motor having armature windings (not shown) which are disposed to be connected to a source of supply by conductors I4 and a eld winding I6. The field winding I6 is connected to be energized from a constant source of direct current, such as the battery I8, through a manually operated rheostat and a variable rheostat 24, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The shaft 26 of the motor is disposed to drive a load (not shown) and has a cone pulley 28 attached to one of its ends in any suitable manner.

As illustrated, the constant speed reference machine I2 is a direct current motor connected to be supplied from any constant source, not shown, by conductors 30. A mechanical differential connection 32 is also associated with the motor I2 disposed to be driven in accordance with a change in speed between the motors I0 and I2.

As illustrated, a cone pulley 34 is carried on the end of the hollow shaft 36 of the motor I2 as by means of the ball bearings 38, the cone pulley being directly connected to the end of the shaft 40 which extends through the hollow shaft 36 of the motor I2. A suitable belt 42 is so disposed over the cone pulleys 34 and 28 that a desirable ratio between the movements of the pulleys may be obtained and the pulley 34 is driven at a speed relative to the speed of the cone pulley 26, depending upon the ratio between the pulleys.

The shaft 40 to which the cone pulley 34 is attached extends through the motor I2 and is secured to the end plate 44 of the diiferential connection device 32. The end of the hollow shaft Y3.6 of the motor I2 also functions as a part of the ciliernnal device 32 in that it carries a nut 4s suitably keyed thereto as to be disposed for longitudin'al movement 'with respect to the shaft 36. As illustrated; suitable friction shoes 48 are carried aboutthe periphery 'of theend plate 44 disposed for gripping the end ofthe worm 50 to eifect a movement" thereof in response to a movement of the shaft 4l).Y Rotative movement of the worm 50 in response Atoa difference in speeds between the motors I U and I2 eiects a movement of the nut 46 to cause a movement of the arm 52 about its pivot 54, the connections between the nut 46 and the pivot shaft 54 not being shown as they are well known in the art.

In the particular embodiment of the differential employed i'or illustrating this invention, arms 52 and 56 extend upwardly from the shaft 54 on opposite sides of the casing or housing 55 of the diiferential device 32. Each of the arms 52 and 56 are secured to the ends of the shaft 54 in any suitable manner or as illustrated, the ends of the arms 52 and 56 are respectively slotted for fitting over the ends of the shaft 54, a screw 58 being employed for tightening the grip of the slotted ends of the arms on the shaft 54.

The number of sections of the variable resistor 24 which are included in circuit with the eld winding I6 of the motor I0 is controlled by the operation of a primary control device 68 which is disposed to be operated in accordance'with the movement of the differential device 32. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the primary control device 60 comprises a plurality of alternately stacked elongated conductor members 62 and insulating spacer members 64 provided with aligned openings therein for forming a well 66 Which communicates with a bellows 68 which carries a liquid conducting material, such as mercury. In a preferred embodiment the elongated conductor members extend radially outward from the stack to facilitate the making of electrical connections thereto. The alternately stacked conducting members and the insulating spacer members are bonded together to form a leakproof structure, it being found that when the bellows 58 is actuated, the mercury is forced through the well 65 to progressively bridge the conducting members 62.

Each of the conducting members is so connected by a lead 63 to a different tap of the resistor 2d that as the mercury is/forced upwardly in the well 66 to progressivelybridge the conductor members 62 to progressively shunts sections of the resistor 2A from the eld circuit of motor if). Details of the primary control device 6D employed in this invention can be had by reference to the copending applications of K. A.Oplinger, f

Serial No, 387,097, and Serial No. 387,098,1flled April 5, 1941, and assigned to the assignee Aof this invention.

As illustrated, the primary control device is carried =by the bracket 'IB which is mounted on the panel 'l2 as by'rneans of the screw 14. A `mechanical connection is also secured to the base of the ybellows .S8 for connecting a driving. member thereto and actuating the bellows 6B. As shown, a threaded rod 'I6 is secured at one end to the bellows 68, a connecting Iblock 18 'being adjustably mounted on theuother end of the threaded rod l as by means of the nut 8|).

A lever 32.is pivotally mounted at one, end as by means of the leaf-spring v.81| secured on the panel2. As illustrated, the leaf-spring v8llforms the pivot for the lever 82 the leaf-spring being .secured at one end to the blockcarriedon the panel 'I2 by the screw 85 and tovlever 82 by screw'l. The lever.2isconnected tottheyconnecting block 'I3 as by means of the leafespring member 88, the endsv of which aresecuredto the connecting block 13 bymeansofthescrew90 Land to the lever 821bymeans of the screw .S Zand the .connecting block zil which isY carried bythe The lever.y 32 is disposed to actuate the"y suitably mounted asin ball bearings (not shown).

CII

Y are actuated `in a counterclockwise direction abouty for permitting substantially frictionless rotative movement of the'. roller.

Again referring to the `arms :52 4and-55,disposed for movement as the differential connection .32 is moved, the spacing `between the arms is `maintained by means of the shaft 93 disposedbetween VGO ceiving ashaft |90 which vextends therebetween."

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the slotted vend of the arm [56 is disposed to grip one end of the shaft |08, a wing nut |62 being disposed to be tightened on the bolt IM which extends through the slotted end ofthe arm 56 to tighten the grip of the slotted end on the shaft |05 to prevent rotation of the shaft relative to the ar-ms 52 and 56.

` Again referring to Fig. 1, there is shown alcam |55 carried on the shaft |05, the cam being so disposed that its sloped surface engages the Lroller v535 carried by the lever 82. The angle. of the Vsloped surface ofthe cam |66 relative to the roller 96 can be varied or adjusted by loosening the wing nut I'lZ illustrated inlig 2 and turning y the shaft |00 Iby means of its handle |08. As will be understood, the adjustment of the angle of the sloped surface of the cam |55 'will determine the ratio of movement of the lever 82 to the movement of the differential device S2 and consequently will determine the sensitivity of the operation of the primary control device 60 in response to a change in speed between the speeds of the motors il and |2.

This is quite evident when it is considered that :the threads of the differential worm 59 and'hut .lll'i normally have a pitch which will require three turns of the worm to operate the primary control device" throughout its entire range of operation. .15.'

By changingV the angle of the sloped surface, the regulationcanbe so adjusted that one turn of the -worm of the differential device 32 is sufcient vto effect the operation of the primary control device 60 over its entire range of operation.

In operation, assuming that the motors i9 and 2v are operating at a desired speed and that the `differential device hasfunctioned to sov operate the primary control device 50, that the column of mercury` effectively shunts a number of thesectionsvof the resistor,4 24 from the -circuit'with the fieldfwindingfl of motor-|0, if for any reason the speed Iof the motor l0 increases thenoperationof therdiferential device is effected. If at the moment that the speed of the motor I0 is increased, the ca m YHllris in the position shown by the dotted lines in'Fig. l, the shafts r52 and 55 their pivotfd to cause the cam f It-to `actuate the ',lever v32 in a clockwise directiongabout its floating pivot 84. rIfhis is readily apparent for as the cam ylili is moved in a counterclockwisedirectionthe roller 96 ridesonits sloped surface and isfvorced A upwardlv'to effect 'a movement of the lever82.

The movement of `thelever 82 about its pivot B4 in the clockwise directionappliesa force to the bellows 68 to force the mercury upwardly througl'i i',hevwell-ll to progressively bridge the conducting members 52 andto progressively shunt more of the sections of the resistor'ZA Vfromfcircuit with the field I winding |6,thereby increasing `tile excitation 4of the seid Wemmel-e. i-'rhe pp- Yeration of -the primary control l'device-|55V is-substantally instantaneous `with thechange in the speed of the motor l0 and is'effective immediately -to change thee'XcitationI-to maintain thel speed of the motor' I substantiallycnstrit-with respect to the speed reference Inachirieil'. A

Iflfor. anyreason `1',h'e..s1: eed..of thelnotor |52 is .decreased vwith respect to 'the. speed o'f;the.con stant reference..machine |.2,'.the.diiferential con- .troldevice :3 .2 .functions toactuate the-armsz `and15|i inn a clockwise direction about their pivot 15.4 `to permit theleverZ Yt0 .rotatecounterclflckwise about its Jpivotgw84, theroller 9 5 carried on the vend Yof theulever 7,8 2 rolling down the.S1.0ped surface O f the @am 1106. 11.1 practicethe spring ..84 forming @befall/.Qt ,for the .lei/@82 .will .nor-

mally .beso .Selhiased astoyfore the. @Guntercloclwisemovementof the lever 82 aboutits pivot whenl the camj its is 'actuated' Tin' the clockwise directie@ fram the .position .Shown .in-Fig! 1- The tions of the resistor 24 effectively reduces the excitation of the field winding I6 to increase the speed of the motor I to the desired value.

The regulator of this invention is direct acting and effects a quick and sensitive regulation of the speed of the motor which it is desired to control with respect to the speed of a constant reference machine. Adjustments are provided for obtaining the desired sensitivity, the regulation being obtained with a minimum of apparatus and a minimum of moving elements. Further by employing the primary control device described very small changes in the number of sections of the resistor in circuit with the field winding is obtained since the primary control device may have a very large number of switching steps in a very short element, the high current capacity and its sealed-in contact structure making it desirable for use as described.

Although this invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it is, of course, not to be limited thereto except insofar as is necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a regulator, in combination, a constant speed reference machine, a dynamo-electric machine provided with a field winding to be regulated, means for controlling the excitation of the dynamo-electric machine, a differential connection responsive to the speeds of the constant speed reference machine and the dynamo-electric machine, and means disposed for movement as the differential moves t0 actuate the means for controlling the excitation of the dynamoelectric machine, said actuating means comprising an arm carried by the differential and disposed for movement through a predetermined arc as the differential moves, a member having a sloped surface carried by the arm and movable therewith, said member being adjustably mounted on the arm for changing the angle of its sloped surface, a pivotally mounted lever disposed to be engaged by the adjustable member carried by the arm and actuated about its pivot, and means for so connecting the lever to the means for controlling the excitation of the dynamo-electric machine that movement of the lever by the arm carried by the differential effects the operation of the control means, the angle of A slope of the surface of the adjustable member carried by the arm determining the ratio of the movement of the lever to the movement of the differential and the sensitivity of the operation of the control device.

2. In a regulator, in combination, a constant speed reference machine, a dynamo-electric machine provided with a field Winding to be regulated, means for controlling the excitation of the dynamo-electric machine, a differential connection responsive to the speeds of the constant speed reference machine and the dynamo electric machine, and means disposed for movement as the differential moves to actuate the means for controlling the excitation of the dynamo-electric machine, said actuating means comprising an arm carried by the differential and disposed for movement through a predetermined arc as the differential moves, a member having a sloped surface carried by the arm and movable therewith, said member being adjustably mounted on the arm for changing the angle of its sloped surface, a pivotally mounted lever disposed for movement about its pivot, means carried by the lever disposed to be engaged by the sloped surface and to move relative thereto as the arm is moved, the relative movement of the means carried by the lever effecting a movement of the lever about its pivot, and means for so connecting the lever to the means for controlling the excitation of the dynamo-electric machine that the* movement of the lever effects the operation of the control means, the angle of slope of the sloped surface of the member carried by the arm deter-- mining the ratio of the movement of the lever to the movement of the differential and the sensitivity of the operation of the control device.

3. In a regulator, in combination, a constant; speed reference machine, a dynamo-electric machine provided with a field winding to be regulated, means for controlling the excitation of the dynamo-electric machine, a differential connection responsive to the speed of the constant speed reference machine and the dynamo-electric machine, and means disposed for movement as the differential moves to actuate the means for controlling the excitation of the dynamo-electric machine, said actuating means comprising an arm carried by the differential and disposed for movement through a predetermined arc as the differential moves, a cam carried by the arm and movable therewith, the cam having a sloped surface, a pivotally mounted lever disposed for movement about its pivot, means carried by the lever disposed to be engaged by the sloped surface of the cam for movement relative thereto as the cam is moved, and means for so connecting the lever to the means for controlling the excitation of the dynamo-electric machine that movement of the lever effects the operation of the control means, the angle of slope of the sloped surface of the cam which engages the means carried by the lever determining the ratio of the movement of the lever to the movement of the differential.

4. In a regulator, in combination, a constant speed reference machine, a dynamo-electric machine provided with a field Winding to be regulated, a resistor having a plurality of sections connected in circuit with the field winding of the dynamo-electric machine, a control device for controlling the number of sections of the resistor connected in circuit with the field winding, said control device comprising a plurality of alternately stacked conducting members and insulating spacer members provided with aligned openings therein for forming a well, the conducting members and spacer members being bonded together to form a leakproof structure, a bellows at one end of the stack disposed to communicate with the well therein, and liquid conducting material carried in the bellows, the liquid conducting material being disposed to be actuated by a movement of the bellows to flow in the well and progressively bridge the spaced conducting members to perform a switching operation, a. differential connection responsive to the speeds of the constant speed reference machine and the dynamo-electric machine, and means disposed for movement as the differential moves to actuate: the bellows and force the liquid conducting material carried therein to perform the switching operation and control the excitation of the dynamo-electric machine.

5. In a regulator, in combination, a constant speed reference machine, a dynamo-electric machine provided with a field winding to be regu` lated, a resistor having a plurality of sections connected in circuit with the field winding of the dynamo-electric machine, a control device for controlling the number of sections of the resistor `material being disposed to be actuated by a m0ve.

ment of the bellows to flow in the well-and progressively bridge the spaced conducting members to perform a switching operationa dferential connection responsive to the speeds of the constant speed reference machine and the dynamo-electric machine, and means disposed for movement as the differential moves to .actuate the bellows to effect a switching operation for controlling the excitation of the dynamoelectric machine, said actuating means cornjprising an arm carried by the differential and :disposed for movement through a predetermined :arc as the Adiierential moves, a pivotally mounted .lever disposed to be engaged by the arm and actu- :ated about its pivot, and means for so connecting the lever to the bellows of the control device Ythat movement of the lever by the arm carried by the vdifferential effects theoperation of the control device.

6. In a regulator, in combination, a constant speed reference machine, a dynamo-electric machine provided with a eld winding to be regulated, a resistor having a plurality of sections connected in circuit with the field winding of' the dynamo-electric machine, a control device for controlling the number of sections of the resistor connected in circuit with the field winding, said control device comprising a plurality ofA alternately'V stacked :conducting members and insulatingg-r-spacermembers provided with aligned openings therein for forming a well, the cone,

-ducting members :and spacer @members being bondedtogether'to'forma leakproof structure, a bellows at one end of the stack disposed to com= .municatewith thewell therein, and liquid con- -ducting material carried in `the bellows, the liduid conducting material being disposed to vbe actuated by'amovement of "the bellowsto iiow -in ,the welland progressively bridge the spaced conducting membersftmperforma switching operation,adifferential connection responsive to ,the speedsof the constant speed reference ma- ,chine `andthe dynamo-electric machine, and Vmeans disposed for movement as thefgdiierential ,moves toactuate the bellows vto effect a switching Voperation for controlling the excitation of the dynamo-electric machine, said actuating means comprising an arm carried by the :differential and disposed for movementthrough a predetermined arc as the diierential moves, a member -having a sloped-surface carried by the arm and movable therewith, said member-being adjustably mounted for changing-the angle of the sloped surface, a pivotally mounted lever disposed for movement aboutits pivot, -means carried by the lever disposed 1to-be engaged by the sloped surface `as the arm is moved to-eiect a movement of thelever vrel-ative to lthe arm, and Vmeans for sof-connecting the lever tothe bellows of the control device that movement of the lever eiects the operation of the control device, the angle of slope oftheslopedsurface of the member carried vby the arm determining the ratio of the movement of the Jever tothe movement of the differential and-the sensitivity of the operation of the control device.

RALPH A. GEISELMAN. 

